Signal for mail boxes



Dec. 29, 19 1,567,100

K. W. BABER SIGNAL FOR MAIL soxas Filed Dec. 3, 1924 CARRIER ualnva Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES KEMPER W. BABER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SIGNAL FOR MAIL BOXES.'

Application filed December 3, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KEMPEP. W. Basra, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Mail Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to a signal for mail boxes and the like and has for its general object to provide a structure capable of being moved to different positions for indicating the condition of the mail box for instance whether or not the same is empty, or contains mail to be collected by the carrier or mail left by the carrier for the patron.

A very important object of the invention is to provide an indicating signal of this nature which may be moved to and maintained in any one of three positions so that the signal may be easily read from a considerable distance.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a signalling device of this nature which is capable of easy and ready operation so that it may be moved to its different positions quickly and yet may not easily be moved from a position from which it has been moved accidentally. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a signalling device of this nature with a very simple and eificient structure, one which is reliable in operation, inexpensiveto manufacture, handy, strong, durable, not likely to become easily out of order and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rural mail box showing my signalling device mounted thereon Figure 2 is an elevation of the signalling device,

Figure 3 is another elevation thereof taken at right angles to that shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the lower end of the signal arm.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will Serial No. 753,749.

be seen that the rural mail box is indicated generally at A and is provided with the usual cover B. The box and cover may be of any desired preferred or conventional form. My signalling device C is mounted,

on the box A in a convenient position so that it may be seen readily by both the carrier and the patron of the box.

This signalling device C includes abracket 5 and a signal proper S. The bracket 5-is in the form of a plate riveted or otherwise fastened to the box A as at (i so as to extend vertically. The signal proper S is movably mounted on the bracket 5 so as to take either of the two horizontal positions indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 or the vertical position indicated in full lines in the same figure. The signal proper S includes the signal arm 7 andblade 8 mounted on the outer end thereof and preferably formed integral therewith. The inner end of the signal arm 7 indicated at 9 is provided with a curved transversely extending slot 10 substantially arcuate in formation and provided centrally with a notch 11. A slot 12 extends longitudinally of the arm 7 in alinement with the notch 11 and it is preferable that the distance from notch 11 to the upper or outer end of slot 12 be the same as the distance from said notch 11 to the extremities of the trans versely disposed slot 10. A pair of vertically disposed pins are mounted on the upper end of the bracket preferably rivets or bolts as shown at 15 and 16 for holding the plate 14 in vertical alinement with the bracket and spaced therefrom.

The sio'ual arm 7 is disposed between the bracket 5 and the late 14: and pin 15 extends through slot 12 and through slot 10 extends pin 16. The distance between the pin 15 and 16 is preferably equal to the distance between notch 11 and the upper end of the slot 12. The arm 7 adjacent the terminals of the slot 10 is provided with projections 13 and the lower end 9 is constructed with curved portions 17.

Considering the device as it is illustrated in Figure 2 it will be seen that if a finger is placed under the projection 13 to the right (note Figure 4) and lifted upwardly the notch 11 will be disengaged from pin 16 and the signal allowed to move to the dotted line position as shown to the left in said Figure 2. This position would indicate that there was mail in the box for the patron thereof and a legend Patron is preferably printed gaged with the uppermostprojection 18 and moved downwardly therebyswinging the signal arm to a vertical position at which time the notch 11 will engage the pin 16. If the same projection 13 now to the right is pushed upwardly the signallin -deyice will swing to the right andtake the horizontal position shown to the right of Figure 2. The legend Empty iswritten; on, the; blade 8 so asto be readable in this position. When vertically disposed the legend Carrier is eadableon t is dn It will now he,apparentthatI haye pro; ded a v ry' implend fiicient ev ce of t i n ure; whi h a ibe a i y and ead v moved to ny e f hr e P s ion ndw l bemaintained from accidental displacement in; these positions, Thezdev-ice consists of few' parts not. liablev to get out of order. capable of being manufactured cheaply and insuring a. long life of usefulness.- The device as, described, in the present example thereof embodies allthe ffeatures of advantage enumerated as desirable inthe state- Inentof the invention and in theaboye descriPtiOnand itis, to be notedthat numerous changes in the details-of construction, and in the; combination and arrangement of parts .may. be resorted to without departing from tudinally extending slot for receiving the uppermost pin and a transversely extending slot for receiving the lower pin.

' 2. In a signalling device for mail boxes or the like, a bracket, a pair of vertically alined pins extending transversely from the bracket, a plate connecting the pins and spaced from the bracket, a signal-provided with a longitudinally extending slot for receiving the uppermost pin and a transversely extending slot for receiving the lower pin, anotc being provided in the transverse slot.

3. In a signalling device for mail boxes or the like, a bracket, a pair of;v vertically alined pins extending transversely from .thebracket, a plate,connectingthe;pins and spaced from the bracket, a signal provided with-alongitudinally extending: lQtt for receiving the pp most p n; a d; ransv rse y xt ndin slot for receiving the lowerpin, a notch being provided in the; transverse slot said transverse slot being curved withits notch centrally located, and the distance between the notch-and the farther endjofthelongitudinal slot being at least equalto thedista-nce between said notch and the extremity of the transverse slot.

at. In a-signallingdevice for mail boxes or the like, a brackea'asignal mounted onthe bracket: for longitudinal sliding and swinging movements and having a transversely extendingslot and anotch communicating with the intermediate portion ofthe' slot, vand a member rigid with the-bracket and projecting therefrom to engage-the ends :of the slot or to engage in the notch for arresting. the signal and maintaining the same in oppositely swung substantially horizontal positionsor inan intermediate substantially vertical-position. 1

In testimony whereof; I- affix my; signature.

KEMPER W. BABER. 

